Bill Viola Jr

Bill Viola Jr.
Born
William Viola III

(1977-04-09) April 9, 1977 (age 49)
Irwin, PA
EducationUniversity of Pittsburgh
OccupationsMartial artist, author
Organization(s)President: Kumite Classic Entertainment, Owner: Allegheny Shotokan Karate
Notable workTough Guys, Showtime film Tough Guys
ChildrenGabriella "Gabby" Viola
ParentBill Viola Sr.

William Viola Jr. (born April 9, 1977) is an international martial arts champion, promoter and author. He is the producer and founder of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based Kumite Classic.

Personal life

Bill Viola Jr. was born in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was introduced to the art of Shotokan Karate by his father Bill Viola Sr. who is the founder of Allegheny Shotokan Karate and co-creator of the modern sport of MMA. Viola Jr. followed in his father's footsteps beginning martial arts lessons at the age of 3.

Viola's daughter, Gabriella "Gabby" Viola, is a third-generation martial artist and world champion who competes internationally in karate and kickboxing, with Viola serving as her coach and sensei. She has represented WAKO Team USA in international competition, including the WAKO Junior World Championships, and has also represented the U.S. Army Fight Team. In 2025, she won the 12–14 Black Belt Open Weight Grand Championship at the WAKO USA National Championships and earned nine gold medals at the ICO World Championships. Her competitive career and continuation of the Viola family's three-generation martial arts tradition have also been profiled by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review.

Career

In 2019, the city of Pittsburgh named September 23 as "Sensei Viola Day" recognizing the Viola Family for their 50-year dojo anniversary. The date was symbolic as it was Viola Jr.’s son's William Viola IV's birthday.

In 2023, Bill Viola Jr. was appointed chairman of Tatami Sports for WAKO USA (USA Kickboxing). Viola later brokered a partnership between WAKO USA, the Kumite Classic and the Arnold Sports Festival to stage the WAKO USA National Championships in Columbus, Ohio. The championships were held as part of the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival, alongside the 25th-anniversary edition of the Kumite Classic. Viola's connection to the Arnold Sports Festival began during his competitive career. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, he won gold at an Arnold event and subsequently met Arnold Schwarzenegger, an experience that helped inspire his later development of the Kumite Classic.

Competition retirement

In the summer of 1999, Viola was involved in an automobile accident on US Route 30 in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He sustained a serious cervical neck fracture injury that effectively ended his competitive karate career (1981–1999).

Coaching

Viola has remained active in martial arts serving as head coach of "Team Kumite," an all-star karate team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team is noted as the most successful sport karate competition team in the Pittsburgh region, winning 12 National Black Belt League (NBL) World titles in 2013.

Kumite Classic Entertainment

Viola graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999 and moved to Hollywood, California, to work in the entertainment industry. He earned acceptance into the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio (AFTRA). After working with top industry professionals he established his own production company, Kumite Classic Entertainment in 1999. The company's signature event is the annual self-titled Kumite Classic, a multi-sport and fitness expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Viola has worked as a consultant for a number of major motion pictures, including Warrior (2011). He is credited as an associate producer for the mixed martial arts-inspired film Tapped Out (2014).

Author

Viola is the co-author of the mixed martial arts-inspired Tough Guys. The book chronicles CV Productions, Inc., the first mixed martial arts league in America and the introduction of the Tough Guy Contest.

Godfathers of MMA is the subject of the documentary film Tough Guys (2016) produced by MinusL Inc.

He established Kumite Quarterly Magazine in 2003. It was published until 2007. As a freelance journalist, he was contracted by Sport Karate Magazine to cover The National Black Belt League World Games on location in Canada, Mexico and across the United States.

The commemorative release of Tough Guys (2017) peaked at No. 1 on Amazon sports category coinciding with the Showtime film Tough Guys debut.

In 2016, Viola created the Sensei Says educational curriculum and was awarded a Federal Trademark for the courses.

Producer

Viola Jr. was an associate producer of the documentary film Tough Guys. It was broadcast on Showtime in 2017. Viola made a cameo in Tough Guys playing his father.

He has co-produced and worked as a consultant on several films: Warrior (2011), Tapped Out (2014), Gridlocked (2015), and The Sound (2017).

Filmography

Year Film Notes
2011 Warrior Consultant       
2014 Tapped Out  Associate Producer
2015 Gridlocked  Associate Producer
2015 The Sound Producer       
2017 Tough Guys  Associate Producer

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Pickels, Mary (February 8, 2015). “Martial arts are a family affair”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B3.
  2. 1 2 Hunger, Brian (July 22, 2001). “Viola poised to provide karate scholarships for youth”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B3.
  3. ↑ Kelly, Jack (April 16, 2007). “Festival puts emphasis on physical fitness”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. 1 2 3 Latest, MMA. "A Review of Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of An American Sport". MMA Latest. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Forging a Path for Half a Century". September 12, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Gabby Viola is a 15-year-old martial artist with Olympic aspirations". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 19, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Pittsburgh's world champion martial artist". CBS News Pittsburgh. CBS News.
  8. 1 2 Kelly, Jack (April 16, 2007). “Festival puts emphasis on physical fitness”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  9. ↑ MacGregor, Adam (March 4, 1998).“Fivesome may kick its way to a title”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  10. ↑ Cartey, Richard (November 2012). “Tough guy Contest: The Real Beginnings of MMA in America”. Fighters Only. 3: 72.
  11. 1 2 Jones, Rachel (March 2015) "Family Traditions". WHIRL Magazine, p.38.
  12. 1 2 Dopirak, Dustin (June 16, 2002). “Karate instructor passionate about foundation”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, p. B7.
  13. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/video/kd-kids-club-team-usa-kickboxing-team/
  14. ↑ "Gabby Viola is a 15-year-old martial artist with Olympic aspirations". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Pittsburgh's world champion martial artist". CBS News Pittsburgh. CBS News.
  16. ↑ "Infinity National Championships: A Spectacular Showcase of WAKO USA Talent at the Kalahari Resort". Black Belt. May 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Gabby Viola is a 15-year-old martial artist with Olympic aspirations". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 19, 2026.
  18. ↑ "WAKO USA National Championships". WAKO USA. USA Kickboxing.
  19. ↑ "ICO World Championships 2025 — Results by Individual". Kihapp.
  20. ↑ "New black belt Gabby Viola continuing North Huntingdon family's storied karate tradition". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ Joe Napsha (February 3, 2022). "North Huntingdon girl succeeds in karate despite health challenges". Tribune-Review.
  22. ↑ "Allegheny County recognizes 'Sensei' Viola for devotion to karate".
  23. ↑ "Governments, students honor North Huntingdon karate instructor Bill Viola". September 22, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Arnold Sports Festival to Host the 2025 WAKO USA National Championships Through Innovative Partnership with Kumite Classic". Black Belt Magazine. September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2026. USA Kickboxing is recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as a Recognized Sport Organization within its Affiliate Organizations Council."Affiliate Organizations". United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Retrieved September 28, 2026."U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Announces Five New Affiliate Organizations Council Members". United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. January 11, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Arnold Sports Festival to Host the 2025 WAKO USA National Championships Through Innovative Partnership with Kumite Classic". Black Belt Magazine. September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Arnold Sports Festival to Host the 2025 WAKO USA National Championships Through Innovative Partnership with Kumite Classic". Black Belt Magazine. September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  27. ↑ "This Pitt alum is promoting fitness and perseverance through competitive martial arts". Pittwire. University of Pittsburgh. October 30, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Meeting Materials – March 3, 2025" (PDF). California State Athletic Commission. March 3, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Kumite Classic Celebrates 25 Years at Arnold Sports Festival, Featuring WAKO Nationals". Black Belt Magazine. 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  30. ↑ "WAKO USA Nationals Elevates the Arnold Sports Festival to New Heights". WAKO USA. March 1, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Meeting Materials – March 3, 2025" (PDF). California State Athletic Commission. March 3, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  32. ↑ "This Pitt alum is promoting fitness and perseverance through competitive martial arts". Pittwire. University of Pittsburgh. October 30, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Kumite Classic Celebrates 25 Years at Arnold Sports Festival, Featuring WAKO Nationals". Black Belt Magazine. 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  34. ↑ Iovino, Jim (August 15, 1999). “Karate duo’s dreams crash before nationals”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, page 6. Westmoreland Sports
  35. ↑ "Norwin junior claims a sport karate world title". (January 14, 2011). Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
  36. ↑ Gulasy, Doug (January 16, 2014). “Team Kumite has ‘unprecedented’ success”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,. p. 28.
  37. ↑ Adamski, Chris (January 25, 2013). “Leader earns top karate honor”. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  38. ↑ Schofield, Melissa (November 1, 2000). “Former karate champion makes transition to music video”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p. E5.
  39. 1 2 Zuchowski, Dave (February 12, 2015). “Karate kids: Viola family keeps kicking at World Games”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette p.EZ-4
  40. ↑ Schrecengost, Dave "Kumite Classic kicks it up a notch" Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 23, 2013
  41. ↑ "Bill Viola Jr". IMDb.
  42. ↑ Panian, A.J. (January 23, 2014). “Mt. Pleasant Author helps examine mixed martial arts”. Mount Pleasant Journal Archived February 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, p. 1.
  43. 1 2 "Who really invented MMA in America mixed martial arts history". MMA History – Mixed Martial Arts. December 12, 2013.
  44. 1 2 Solomon, Marlena (December 23, 2003 ). "Bill Viola Jr. named ‘NBL Promoter of the Year’". The Advisor, p. 1. Volume 27 No. 13
  45. 1 2 Kanew, Jeff (October 3, 1986), Tough Guys, retrieved February 24, 2016
  46. ↑ "From Pittsburgh roots, MMA, UFC have grown to staggering heights". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  47. ↑ Steele, Jerin. "Before MMA, Tough Guys wowed fans in A-K Valley, throughout state". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Showtime's 'Tough Guys' documentary explores MMA's early roots in 1980s Pittsburgh". September 13, 2017.
  49. ↑ "Tough Guys MMA Book reaches #1 on Amazon best sellers list". September 19, 2017.
  50. ↑ "TESS – Error".
  51. 1 2 "Tough Guys (2017) – IMDb". IMDb.
  52. ↑ "Welcome".
  53. ↑ Bill Viola, Jr; Adams, Fred (November 5, 2014). Godfathers of MMA: The Birth of an American Sport. ISBN 9780996163309.
  54. ↑ Go Ask Your Dad: Questions, Answers and Stories about Fathers, Fatherhood and Parenting. CV Productions. May 5, 2016. ISBN 9780996163316.
  55. ↑ Bill Viola, Jr (August 2017). Tough Guys. ISBN 9780996163323.
  56. ↑ CommonSensei: Sensei Says. Kumite Classic Entertainment. July 28, 2020. ISBN 9780996163347.
  57. ↑ Bill Viola, Jr (July 28, 2020). CommonSensei: Goal Pagoda. ISBN 9780996163354.

Further reading